One important way to nurture the health of your kidneys is to eat your vegetables. A diet rich in vegetables (and fruit) does amazing things for your body, providing a rich variety of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber, and so much more!

Unfortunately, some people just don't like vegetables. They might tolerate potatoes (especially in the form of fries or chips) and they might put up with some pumpkin (in the shape of a pie), but beyond that, they want nothing to do with them.

Fortunately, there are a number of ways to sneak vegetables into food, providing you and your loved ones with all that wonderful nutrition without the hassle of forcing someone to eat food they don't like. Not only are these ideas surprisingly simple, but they might just inspire you to try a few sneaky cooking techniques of your own!


1. Tantalizing Spaghetti Sauce - One of the easiest ways to hide vegetables is in a nice batch of homemade spaghetti or pasta sauce. Even if you don't have the time to cook your sauce from scratch, you can enrich store bought sauce with a depth of flavor and nutritional value that will do your body and taste buds good! Using a food processor, chop red bell peppers, fresh garlic cloves, onion, and cauliflower (four of the best veggies for your kidneys) until they are a fine, mushy consistency, and stir it into the sauce. Add in a generous amount of Italian Seasoning and allow to simmer 30 minutes or longer.

2. Juicy Delicious Burgers - Make delicious and healthy hamburgers that melt in your mouth with all their juicy goodness. The coolest thing about this trick is that you can buy super lean ground beef without worrying about how dry it will taste. Using a ratio of one medium zucchini for every pound of meat, use your food processor to grate your zucchini into pump and add it to your meat. Shape and cook your burgers as usual, knowing that every juicy bite is thanks to all that wonderful and nutritious zucchini!

3. Sweet Smoothie Temptations - Making smoothies is one quick and delicious way to enjoy breakfast on the run. They are also a wonderful way to sneak in some extra vegetables in your day. Adding one to two cups of leafy greens, such as spinach, kale, or cabbage (one of the best foods for your kidney health) to two to three cups of fruit (healthy fruits for your kidneys include red grapes, apples, blueberries, cranberries, strawberries, and raspberries), a banana, and, if necessary, a cup or two of fruit juice will give you all the benefits of those greens without necessitating you taking a bite of "rabbit food." For a more creamy texture, try adding a banana or some Greek Yogurt. Experiment with flavors to find those combinations that put a smile on your face, getting your day off to a great start!


There are many more ways to sneak more vegetables into your diet, from hiding them in food to preparing them in new and interesting ways. Some people find that they can get their kids to eat any vegetable as long as it is prepared in the shape of a fry. Feel free to be as creative as you need to be.

When it comes to taking proper care of your body and your kidneys, the more vegetables you can get yourself to eat, the better. And you might just find that the more often you eat them, the more you begin to like them!